Posted by This blog was originally posted in The Milestone Post.
Not long ago, storing video surveillance data typically depended on expensive primary disk. Few organizations could afford to retain data this way for a significant period of time – many would retain data for as little as 30 days. As a result, these organizations missed the opportunity to leverage their valuable data assets effectively with today’s advanced analytical tools. This was the first challenge Quantum and Milestone set out to address.
One of the first results of the Quantum-Milestone partnership is a file-based plug-in developed by Milestone’s Custom Development team. This software plug-in provides a cost-effective storage option to overcome storage challenges posed by migrating video from analog to digital network cameras, as well as by increasing IP camera resolutions. It helps to extend the utility of surveillance video beyond security applications. The integration of StorNext policy-based data management with XProtect VMS yields a system offering transparent access and long-term retention of video surveillance without being limited by costly primary storage for infrequently accessed data.
Early Adopters Gain Efficient Access and Expansion for Surveillance Data Storage
Early adopters of this combined solution include Canadian pioneers in the medical marijuana industry, HydRX Farms. The medical cannabis business depends on video surveillance not just for security, but also to maintain compliance with strict regulations requiring growers to account for every leaf and seed each plant produces. In an industry that spans agriculture and pharmaceutical business models, protecting unique seed strains can be equated with protecting intellectual property, and video surveillance is considered an essential tool.
In both cases, as video surveillance data is ingested, XProtect writes it to Quantum’s storage platform. Data is ingested to the primary tier of storage, and a copy of the data is written to a lower-cost secondary tier — including high-capacity disk, file-based tape, object storage, and cloud — providing both immediate data protection and long-term retention. As the data ages, the files in the primary storage tier expire but are retained in the secondary tier, significantly reducing the impact of moving an additional day’s worth of surveillance data.
Combining the StorNext file system and XProtect provides direct access to stored data without requiring a third-party program — unlike some competitors — to deliver a simple, elegant solution. This approach allows XProtect to utilize more cost-effective storage technologies and enables the system to easily expand with increased bandwidth, primary storage or secondary tier capacity.
Award-winning Partnership
Milestone marked the successful collaboration with Quantum at this year’s MIPS partner community conference, honoring the company with its Technology Partner of the Year Award for 2016. Just weeks later, Quantum was named Best Milestone Solution Partner for 2016 in the Asia Pacific region. At the U.S. MIPS ceremony, Tim Palmquist, Milestone VP Americas said of Quantum:
Quantum promotes the importance of alternate storage and archive solutions for video. Working closely with the Milestone Marketing team, this partner took the lead to set up seminars and webinars across the country, as well as other collaborative opportunities between our companies. Moreover, they have successfully provided their tape archive solution integration to customers as a cost-effective 10¢ on the dollar compared to spinning disks.